Fred Astaire – Oscar Peterson / Barney Kessel / Charlie Shavers / Flip Phillips / Ray Brown / Alvin Stoller – The Astaire Story
By Harry Karalis
| Label: | DRG Records – DARC 3-1102 |
|---|---|
| Format: | 3 x Vinyl, LP, Reissue Box Set |
| Country: | US |
| Released: | 1978 |
| Genre: | Jazz |
| Style: | Jazz |
I saw this box set and knew that Oscar Peterson had made a recording with Fred Astaire but this set was unfamiliar to me. No question….. I had to have it, just check out the line up with the Jazz at the Philharmonic members: tenor saxophonist Flip Phillips, trumpeter Charlie Shavers, pianist Oscar Peterson, guitarist Barney Kessel, bassist Ray Brown, and drummer Alvin Stoller!
BUT what happened next I was not expecting. I cued up the record on the turntable, thin gauge pressing, I prepared myself for a let down……
WOW!! Wow! The musicians started quite muted and relaxed and then Fred started singing. What’s happening here? Fred moved into my room and I groped for the LP thinking when was this recorded?? I read 1952, what? 1952 and then it hit me literally between the eyes…. MONO.
As the LP played I just marveled how Fred’s voice projected into the room with the musicians around him. The musicians stretch out and solo bringing them forward in the mix, highlight after highlight.
A great recording to take to HiFi shows. I have had audio engineers in my room with their mouths open as I explain its Mono!!
Beautiful, Amazing music, stunning LP Box set, highly recommended!